an ancient military device for hurling missiles
2 : a device for launching an airplane at flying speed

compliance

1 a : the act or process of complying to a desire, demand, or proposal or to coercion b : conformity in fulfilling official requirements
2 : a disposition to yield to others
3 : the ability of an object to yield elastically when a force is applied : FLEXIBILITY

consternation

amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion <the two... stared at each other in consternation, and neither knew what to do -- Pearl Buck

1 a : a rounded vault resting on a usually circular base and forming a roof or a ceiling b : a small structure built on top of a roof
2 : a vertical cylindrical furnace for melting iron in the foundry that has tuyeres and tapping spouts near the bottom
3 : a raised observation post in the roof of a railroad caboose

deign

to condescend reluctantly and with a strong sense of the affront to one's superiority that is involved
transitive senses : to condescend to give or offer

1 a : deviating from an established or usual pattern or style b : deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways
2 a : deviating from a circular path; especially : ELLIPTICAL 1 <an eccentric orbit> b : located elsewhere than at the geometrical center; also : having the axis or support so located <an eccentric wheel>
synonym see STRANGE

eloquence

: discourse marked by force and persuasiveness; also : the art or power of using such discourse
2 : the quality of forceful or persuasive expressiveness

emissary

1 : one designated as the agent of another : REPRESENTATIVE
2 : a secret agent

emphatic

1 : uttered with or marked by emphasis
2 : tending to express oneself in forceful speech or to take decisive action
3 : attracting special attention
4 : constituting or belonging to a set of tense forms in English consisting of the auxiliary do followed by an infinitive without to that are used to facilitate rhetorical inversion or to emphasize something
- em·phat·i·cal·ly /-'fa-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

encroach

1 : to enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another
2 : to advance beyond the usual or proper limits <the gradually encroaching sea>
synonym see TRESPASS

erratic

a : having no fixed course : WANDERING <an erratic comet> b archaic : NOMADIC
2 : transported from an original resting place especially by a glacier <an erratic boulder>
3 a : characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity b : deviating from what is ordinary or standard : ECCENTRIC <an erratic genius>
synonym see STRANGE

exaltation

1 : an act of exalting : the state of being exalted
2 : an excessively intensified sense of well-being, power, or importance
3 : an increase in degree or intensity <exaltation of virulence of a virus

1 a : to subject to the action of an electric current especially for the purpose of stimulating physiologically <galvanize a muscle> b : to stimulate or excite as if by an electric shock <an issue that would galvanize public opinion>
2 : to coat (iron or steel) with zinc; especially : to immerse in molten zinc to produce a coating of zinc-iron alloy
intransitive senses : to react as if stimulated by an electric shock <they galvanized into action